I suppose what I mean is that having differing views about the ontological nature of impairment is not necessarily inconsistent with making good use of a social model of disability (rather than a social model of impairment) since, in a social model view, there is no necessary causal connection between impairment and disability - i.e. if social model research is about disability then it probably won't engage much with the nature of impairment, instead focusing on the identification and removal of disabling barriers and relationships.
Assuming that... 'Disability is something imposed on top of our impairments by the way we are unnecessarily excluded from full participation in society...' (UPIAS)
... then the challenge for most people seems to be arguing about what they believe is 'necessary' and 'unnecessary' exclusion from full participation - rather than what impairment is (I guess Simon is saying these two arguments are connected here). Carol Thomas' distinction between disability and impairment effects (social and individual properties) is one stab at that distinction I guess (there are others).
Only a personal view of course.
Best wishes
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: The Disability-Research Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Shelley Tremain
Sent: 01 September 2004 18:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: impairment
This is of course a tendentious misconstrual of the (hegemonic) social
model.
That version of the model holds that there is a strict division of
impairment and disability. As the saying goes, "disability is not a
necessary consequence of impairment" (a view which you reiterate in your
latest book). However, if, as you state below, " impairment is itself a
social construct" and as you further state
"The definition and labelling of impairment is critical to the process of
disablement - a long standing technique of surveillance or governance that
has a real impact on people's lives (e.g. influencing decisions about which
schools people attend, where they live, if and where they are employed,
whether they can be parents, whether they should live or die, etc.)."
the distinction between impairment and disability breaks down.
The UPIAS document from which the social model apparently emerged makes a
definite nature/culture distinction. This is an ontological assumption. In
a post in April, you indicated that you agreed with the ontological
assumptions of the UPIAS document (it may be that you have reconsidered
your/their view or maybe you simply aren't familiar enough with that
philosophical terminology). Regardless, in your remarks below, you collapse
this distinction. I'm afraid that in neither case can you have it both
ways.
I would think for your students' sake (if not for the sake of others on this
list) you would try to be more consistent in your stated views.
Best regards,
______________________
Professor Shelley Tremain
Department of Philosophy
University of Toronto at Mississauga
Erindale College
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
L5L 1C6
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Priestley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2004 4:39 AM
Subject: impairment
mmm... it's a well trodden debate but my own view, for what it's worth, is
that it's more helpful to think about social model analysis as a tool to
expose the oppression experienced by people with 'perceived impairments' or
people 'labelled as having impairments' (since impairment is itself a social
construct). The definition and labelling of impairment is critical to the
process of disablement - a long standing technique of surveillance or
governance that has a real impact on people's lives (e.g. influencing
decisions about which schools people attend, where they live, if and where
they are employed, whether they can be parents, whether they should live or
die, etc.).
In a social world constructed and governed around shifting expectations of
normality those impairment labels change over time and in response to
changes in the social relations of production and reproduction (hence
disability changes too). From a social model perspective it would be the
construction and regulation of human normality and social norms that gives
rise to disabling barriers (e.g. norms developed in response to the
emergence of capitalism, industrialization, modernity, cultural imperialism,
nationalism, eugenics, medicalisation, etc.).
Understanding how this kind of labelling takes place, the assumptions on
which it is based, and the impact it then has on people's lives seems pretty
consistent with social model analysis as far as I can see. I don't think it
necessarily requires a belief that anyone actually 'has an impairment',
whatever that is (!), as an individual property (e.g. Carol Thomas' book?).
Sara is right about learning differences for example. From a social model
perspective, understanding why some but not others are labeled as
impairments (learning difficulties) exposes how institutions of learning and
teaching fail to accommodate some differences.
To take Sara's and Simon's points, the research literature on learning
difficulties' seems to have taken this on board more thoroughly than other
fields by often talking explicitly about 'people labelled as having learning
difficulties' rather than 'people with learning difficulties' (a
construction that has evolved radically over recent years to include many
new labels and many new groups of people).
PS. I found Hughes and Paterson's paper on the 'disappearing body' quite
helpful in highlighting the risk of 'abandoning the body to medical science'
by accepting fixed biophysical notions of impairment.
Best wishes
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Larry Arnold
Sent: 31 August 2004 23:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: New Book
Except of course that your version of the social model still discriminates
because it contains the concept of impairment, which is a personal and as
negative as any "word" and anglo centric linguistically.
Oh well whats the point of trying to change and challenge peoples beliefs as
they hang onto them anyway, Ossification would be a good word for it? if it
weren't so latinate in construction.
I leave you word people to it, you can't see beyond your personal constructs
because you can't think beyond your language into anothers mind who thinks
differently.
Larry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Colin Barnes
> Sent: 31 August 2004 07:39
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: New Book
>
>
> Dear All
>
> I hope the following will be of nterest. It is the second in a
> series of three books documenting contributions to seminars held
> across the UK last year.
>
> Colin Barnes
>
> ญญญญญญญญญญ--------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------------------
>
> Disability Policy and Practice:
> Applying the Social Model
>
> Edited by Colin Barnes and Geof Mercer
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Colin Barnes
> Sent: 31 August 2004 07:39
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: New Book
>
>
> Dear All
>
> I hope the following will be of nterest. It is the second in a
> series of three books documenting contributions to seminars held
> across the UK last year.
>
> Colin Barnes
>
> ญญญญญญญญญญ--------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------------------
>
> Disability Policy and Practice:
> Applying the Social Model
>
> Edited by Colin Barnes and Geof Mercer
>
>
> 'Disability Policy and Practice: Applying the Social Model of
> Disability' contains thirteen chapters on the application of
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> contributors include established figures and newcomers to the
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> they provide ample evidence of the continuing relevance of
> debates emanating from the social model of disability within
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>
> Disability Policy and Practice: Applying the Social Model' is
> also available on request at no additional cost on CD, in PDF
> format, for ease of access for people who require alternative formats.
>
> The Book and CD are only available by mail order from the
>
> Centre for Disability Studies,
> School of Sociology and Social Policy,
> University of Leeds,
> LS2 9JT
>
> at: ฃ16.50 including postage and packing (20% discount for orders
> of four or more)
>
> Payment may be by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) via the
> telephone, fax, email, or by cheque, payable to the University of
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> minicom), or (44) 113 3434415 (fax) by email:
> [log in to unmask] or by post at the address above.
>
> ________________End of message______________________
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